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In difficult times, there is naturally a focus on maximizing the operational efficiency of existing assets, including enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) operations and looking for capital-efficient ways to increase the resource base in existing assets. -
One of my best moments is to have made the technical case for polymer flooding and to see the fruits of this several decades later. As is so often the case in our industry, my contribution stands alongside those of many others in the intervening years who have all made the EOR journey possible.
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CO2 injection is a successful EOR technology that has been deployed extensively in the Permian Basin. Further expansion of CO2 EOR has been limited by the availability of affordable CO2 rather than the existence of suitable target reservoirs. This situation may be about to change.
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Significant progress in cost reduction has been made in the industry following the price downturn, not only in the direct cost of construction and operations but also through a determined drive to simplify and streamline new projects in concepts selected for facilities and wells.
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Since 2006, production from gas injection has outstripped that from thermal, and is continuing to grow. Even though industry conditions remain tough, EOR is expected to be increasingly important in the future, with the possibility of further uptake of it linked to the climate-change agenda.
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What a difference a year can make! Back in June 2014, when the EOR Operations feature last appeared in JPT, Brent was trading at more than USD 100/bbl.
